1st Sunday of advent. Living without fear

http://frasercampbellmusic.com/
Fraser is here from Victoria. Song leader this morning. Concert tonight 7pm at www.EasTview.org free admission

Search the heavens search the stars there is no one like our God.

Take my world it weighs too much for me.

Dave Ens
1st Sunday of Advent. Preparing for the arrival. Anticipation. Stress. Dread. Excitement. Gifts. Tension. God with us. Salvation. A singular gift with many layers.
Lots of people are filled with fear. God says don't be afraid.
What decisions we make are based on fear? God gives us a gift of life without fear.
Is it worth fearing our fear?
Luke 1 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!

We don't want something new. Is the thing you fear really a threat?

Mary was on a normal trajectory of life as a Jewish teenager engaged to be married. She accepted God's interruption.
Mary accepted the new.

Mary had things to fear. Death shame dishonor. She was willing to let God be God.

A God initiated encounter always gets past the fear if we say yes to God. Do good instead of no harm.

Are you afraid of losing something of real importance? Don't be afraid. You are more valuable than MANY sparrows.

Is the thing you fear really powerful? Can it actually hurt you?

God's mercy goes from generation to generation.
There is nothing greater than God's ability to save. Why do I fear anything? God invites us to a life without fear.

Dave Toycen World Vision

ISIS ISLAM & JESUS
at www.TheMeetinghouse.com pastor Burkholder
Fear tolerance respect
There are some common goals all people. Help the Muslims so they ask why are you here? We are here because Jesus loves you.
Jesus is constantly challenging his disciples to help the disadvantaged.
A religious leader in Afghanistan said 1 of 70 women die in childbirth.
They put on a 17 week course to help. The leader said he would assure the safety of the workers.
In Mauritania they were advised to leave for safety. He called the chief imam and their safety was assured.
A boy was dying of aids. He loved spending time with Dave.
Jesus said bring the children to me. The poor ragged ones too.
Children have a voice that needs to be heard. You have to address their needs. It is transformative for us. Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God.
Caring is not easy. 6.3 million children are dying from preventable diseases.
It is emotional. Jesus wept twice. Lazarus died. The community was morning. See how he loved him. God so loved us he gave his son. Tears are not enough. Do something! Do you love me? Go to work!
44 year old daughter in law has cancer. Son says God is good all the time.
By the rules of the universe we all have to die. Jesus broke that rule when he died for us!

Saw exponential growth in helping communities. Access to clean drinking water. 1800 kids are sponsored through World Vision by
www.TheMeetinghouse.com/WorldVision
See Malawi today!

Baptism Sunday. Outrageous Faith

15 new members joined www.EasTview.org today. 12 baptisms and 3 transfers!
Each candidate shared their faith journey with the church congregation. A packed building!
Then they were baptised on confession of faith in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
VERY ENCOURAGING!

Most of the baptismal candidates grew up in evangelical Christian homes. One came from a Catholic home. She was invited to church and youth group by an EasTview.org youth. Corie, the youth pastor did most of the baptisms.

Choir Song: I'm gonna to rise up singing gonna praise my Lord. Gonna praise my Lord on the mountain top until I drop.

The world has yet to see what God can do through a life totally committed to God.

Blessed be the name of the Lord! The name of the Lord is a strong tower the righteous run into it and they are saved.

Financial Generosity

Searing loss

How Deep The Father's Love For Us
How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory
Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Elton Da Silva
www.EasTview.org video
Money

Money enhances character. We all have banks.  The bank deposit book shows where your heart is.
You are busy making money then you have to get busy spending money.  Then you have to get busy making more money then you have to get busy spending money.

Why?
If we don't have money we think God is not blessing us. If we pursued God instead of money, we would be successful. If you pursued God you would achieve significance.
When you pursue what God wants you to be,  you achieve significance.

When you pursue God you will be blessed to be a blessing!

Follow after God and the score card changes. Generosity is a heart issue, not a pocket book issue.

2 Cor 9 you reap what you sow. What have you decided to give. If God has 10% of your heart, you'll give 10%!?

How much of God is in your heart? Generosity is a gospel issue. Not a law.
Generosity is a gospel privilege. God is generous.
Generosity is an act of worship. Prov 3:9-10 your vats will run over with new wine. Give more get more is wrong.
Release to God out of gratefulnes.
Guilting people does not bring money. Thankfulness to God.
Being generous with money is dependant on how much of him is in it.
God does not need your money.

How do we live a generous life?
Heart checkup. How much of God is in you? Willingness to give cheerfully from the heart.
God wants to enjoy your grateful gift.
Don't write another cheque as taxes
Change your view of money. God uses money to spread the gospel. It is not the end goal but the means to reach others.

God has given everything.

Memorial service for Doris Plett (Harms)

Doris was born on September 10, 1951 passed away September 16, 2014.
1957 Leonard passed away. He was Doris's favorite brother.
Doris was a patient caregiver to her mom.
She married Burt in 72. They had 2 children Kelly and Sheree. In 2001 she was diagnosed with lymphoma. She was predeceased by her parents and 5 siblings and in-laws.

All her kids' friends loved her. She was a wonderful grandma. Being a mother isn't easy.
She loved working in the garden and baking lots of goodies. She was a hard working and a very loving mother.
She had a strong faith. She sang The Lord is my Shepherd for her grandchildren every day.
The cousins sang: The Lord is my Shepherd I'll walk with him always. A round song.

Tribute to Doris by Alviera Plett. Friendship that began in the early teens. Shared many previous times together. Ice cream. Spiced peanuts in Granville.

Did double dates. Shared many times together. Baked the best kiwi chocolate cake. One time the pancakes got burned.

She was a friend to older people and younger people. She always sent cards. One card says a true friend is forever.

She was a special friend. We all miss her.

Slideshow. Vibrant young marrieds. Clearly in love.

Outrageous Generosity

C2C promo video www.EasTview.org
http://www.one88.org/ is a result of outreach and helping to change the inner city of Winnipeg.
Mark Burch. With C2C: http://www.mennonitebrethren.ca/ministry/c2c/

Ottawa church was a giant urban church who now has 3 church plant couples starting inner city churches.

Our personal lives. 2 Cor 8 the church gave themselves generously. Jesus was rich and gave it up for us.

Generosity is not just about money. Unselfish. Large. Abundant as in slice of pie.
It's about a way of life rooted in the gospel. There is a generous person inside each of us. Genesis 1 we are made in the image of God. The family traits of God are in our DNA.
2. The gospel is a gospel of generosity. There is nothing we can do to help ourselves. We are born sinful. We don't have to teach children to sin. How can I get right with God? Can't be done by us. Jesus has done it for you.
The great exchange. The substitute is Jesus. That's outrageous generosity.

3. If you're not generous you don't get the gospel. Generous living is in Jesus. Generosity is there from cover to cover. God blesses so you can be generous.
The Jewish rules required people to take a lot of time off. So they could be generous. Jesus asked us to lay down our lives. So we can be blessed.
On our own we can't be generous. We need Jesus to make us generous.
Thanks be to God. He gave us the very best.

What are the barriers to release that generosity gene? You think you don't have enough? Check the widow's donation. Too old? Tell the 84 year old widow. Boca Roton church Spanish River Presbyterian planted 100s of new churches including 4 C2Cs in Canada.
If God gave you $37mm how much could you do with that. This church family earns that each year. Based on statistics. If you made more than $50,000 last year you are wealthier than 99% of the world's population.